Shock absorber for vehicles



Oct.` 2l, 1930.- c. N. MITCHELL 1,778,905

SHOCK ABSORBER FOR VEHICLIES Filed June 13, 1927 2 shee'ts-shet 1 l Y: jff' v Oct. 21, 1930. c. N. MITCHELL 1,778,905

SHOCK ABSORBER FOR VEHICLES Filed June 13, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2o bledand which comprises Patented oct. 21, 1930 a UNITED. STATES PATENTOFFICE COURTNEY N'. MITCHELL, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSGNOR OFy ONE-THIRDTO THOMAS BIMGADAMS AND ONE-THIRD T0 LAMAR R. JONES, BOTH GLEVELAND,'0HIO 4SHOCK ABSORBER FOR VEHICLES .Application led June 13,

'are designedA to be interposed between the body and the axle lorsprings' of vehiclesin' order to compensate o r check the rebounding.action of the springs after they have been placed under compression dueto the vehicle passing over uneven places in the road.

The main object of the invention is to pro.- vide aA shock absorber ofthe class described which is-simplein construction, effective inoperation, readily assembled and .disassemcomparatively few parts. Y l

Another object of the invention is to provide a shock absorber of thecharacter set VAforth in which practically all of the parts may be madeof metal stampings thus materially cheapening the construction andadapting the device foiquantity production at comparatively low cost.

Further and more .limited objects of the invention will appear as thedescription proceeds and by reference'to the accompanying drawing inwhich Fig. 1 is a view partly in' side elevation and partly in sectionshowing the shock absorber attached to a vehicle body and connected withthe .vehicle axle; Fig. 2`is a sectional'view on theline 2 2 of Fig. 3looking vinthe direction of the arrow; Fig. 3 isa horizontal sectionalview on the line 33 of Fig. 2;Fig; 4 is an enlarged detail view of theblock or plunger showing the manner of v mounting the valves; and Fig. 5is' a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertiA cal sectionshowing a modification.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a substantiallycup-shaped housing or chamber provided with an overhanging peripheralflange 2 which is somewhat egg shaped and flared outwardly at itsperiphery, the'purpose of which will hereinafter appear. Arranged'withinthe housing 1927. Serial No. 198,475.

or chamber l'is an annular block 3 having a projection 4 thereonpreferably integral therewith. The projection 4 is providedwith a pairof openings 5 and 6 in which are arranged spring seated valves 7 and 8seating in opposite directions. Theprojection 4 is preferably splined tothe casing l, by a key 9 so that the ring 3 and projection 4 move withthe casing in a manner to be hereinafter more fully described. Fittingwithin the casing and contacting with the outer end or bottom thereof isa cup-shaped barrel 10, the'outer end of the sameV fitting 4Within theopening in A the block 3 as shown most clearly in Fig. 3.' A trunnion orlug 11 is preferably welded or brazed to the barrel i10 and pivotallysecured thereto is a vane 12 which is shaped in section as shown mostclearly in Figs. 2 and 3." A rranged within the barrel 10 is an anchormember 13 which is preferably welded to the barrel and provided withathreaded projection 14 which extends through an opening in the end ofthe barrel as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. Also arranged within'thebarrel 10 is'a coil spring-15, the upper end of which engages in arecess or notch in the anchor member 13. The lower end of thecoil spring15 engages in a similar notch in an anchor member 16 which is rigidlysecured to the housing 1 by means of a nut 17 as shown in F ig. 3. Theanchor member 16 is provided with an opening 18 which is closed by a re-Y I Acover 26 closes the upper end of the housing and fits over theflange 2 and is secured thereto by suitable bolts 27. r Apacking ring orgasket 28 is interposed between the fiange^ 2 and -cover 26 in 'order toprovide a liquid tight joint. The cover 26 is providedwithan upstan'dingannular flange 29 which is exteriorly threaded. .Interposed between the'flange 29 and the vbarrel 10-and pressed over loo chassis or body 35 ymeans of the threaded yleakage around and past the barrel 10. A

ilexib e strap or cord 34 is secured at one side between complementaryflanges on the cover 26 and the housing, as show n in Fig. 3 andextendsl about the periphery; thereof as s own most clearly in Fig. 2. Te reference character 37 designates a portion of a vehicle axle.

The device is ada ted yto be secured tothe projection 14 which extendsthrou h an opening provided in the body 35 an is rigldly secured theretoby means of the nut 36 and washer 36. Agasket or shim 14 which isserrated on both'sides as shown in Fig. 3- is interposed between thebody 35 and the end of the b rel 10 and gerves to maintain a tightconnectio therebetween. The lower end of the fiexible strap or collar 34is adapted to be secured to the vehicle axle in any suitable manner. v Y

The barrel 10 fitting within the housing, together with the cover plate26, forms an annular chamber which is liquid tight and is adapted to befilled with liquid, preferably glycerine, up to the levelshown in Fig.2. his chamhber is filled through anv opening 39 normally 'closed by ascrew plug 40. The

block `3 fits loosely within the chamber and is freely slidable onthebar'rel 10 and vthe position of the same may be adjusted by the.screws 22 and 23, as hereinbefore described, for varying the clearanceat the ends of the vane 12 and the clearance at the inner end of theprojection 4.

. The coil spring 15 is maintainedwithin the housing under compressionand tends to force the housing'outwandly or downwardly as .seen in Fig.3 and the washer or ring 31' 'which is interposed between the cover 26and the over-hanging portion 31 is clamped therebetween. It willtherefore be clear that' the ring 31 oiers a frictional resistance tothe turning of the housing ,about the within the housing is increased,the cover 26 is forced against Ythe ring. -31

the saine" between the {lan-ge 31 and 'the this pointand increasing theeverhanging Bange 31 andfthus increasehan 'ng portion 31 was er 30 ispress fitted over the barrel 10 barrel 10r and that as thehydraulicp'ressure iis in,

vcreased the frictional resistance is creased. In -other words, as vthepressure to f clamp ing the ydampening soi-ber. The ring 31 rests,loosely on-the overof the washer- 30. The

so that it cannot rotate with the-housing.

The -projection 4Y is provided with a air of openlngs 5 and 6, ashereinbefore descri d, and arranged within these openings are valves 7and 8 which are adapted to open in opposite directions. The valve 8 isshown in detail inrFig. 2 and is held in place by a coil spring 8' whi hbears against a plug 8z threadedlysecured in the opening. The valve 8 isnormally maintained seated and is not intended to open unless anexcessive or abnormal pressure isreached within the casing. The tensionof the spring 8 may be adjusted by loosening or tightening the screwplug 82. The valve 7 and its mountin 4 is identical with the valve 8except that 1t seats in an Ipposite direction.

o T e operation of the device'is as follows:

The coil spring 15 is normall mailitared un` en t e y 35 der a slighttension and' w moves toward the axle 37 as a result of a cornpressionfofthe vehicle s rings, the coil spring .15 will take up the's ack 1n the4strap 34.

When the body is moved away from the axle as a result of the rebound ofthe vehicle springs, the strap 34 will be placed under tension. As thestrap 34 is connected with the housing the housing will be turned aboutthe barrel 10 as an axis in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 2. Asthe projection 4 is keyed to thehousing, it will turn with the housingand the liquid in the chamber C will be trapped between the-projection4and the vane 12. Due to the peculiar shape and eiect lof the shocklabmounting of the vane 12, it will be seen that the vane 12 will beforced against the side wall of thehousing by the ressure of the liquidand as the liquid in t e chamber can esca e only itwlll be seen that therebound movement of the body will be checked. As the coil spring 15 isconnected at one end with the barrel `10 and at its opposite end withthe housing 1, it will also also be placed under tension. Tlie valve 8will be held to its seat by the spring 8 and jwill not 'open unlessexcessive pressure is reached in the chamber. Wh'en the vehicle bodyagain returns to normal position the spring 15 will returnthe housing toits normal position and during this return movement the liquid o`n' theback side of the projection 4 wi the vane `12 being pivotaly mounted onthe trunnion or lug 11. ."Due to the peculiar shape of the cover 2 6 andthat portion ofthe housing around which the 'strap 34 extends, it willbe seen that during the first movement of the housing in a clockwisedirection with respent to the around the ends of the vane 12 l escapereel past the vane 12,

lioA

seen, that the spring 15 will barrel 10, the movement of the projection4 toward the vane 12 will be com- 130,

paratively rapid and Ithat during the latter part of this movement itwill be slowed down considerably as a result of the change in lever arm.The screws 23 and 24 may beadjusted so that the checking of the reboundm'ay be regulated as desired. The screw 22 may be set so that itprojects into the casing a. shorter distancev than the screw 23 and theblock or ring 3 will then -be slightly deflected or warped in a planeperpendicular to the axis of the housing due to the 4pressure of theliquid against that side of the lblock. This warpingof the block 3l willprovide a greater clearance at the end of the vane 12 wlth the resultthat the checking of the movementof the housing will be gradual. Inother words, the clearance at the ends of the vane 12 will be greatestduring the first movement of the housing and willbe gradually AdecreasedAto a minimum. One of the main features of this form of the inventionisthat practically all of the parts may be made from metal stampings thusmaterially cheapening the construc-4 tion and adapting the device forquantity production at comparatively'low cost.

It will be understood that there will be preferably one shock absorberfor each vehicle spring in order to obtain the best results and theconstruction is such that there is no necessity for making. a'right handand a left hand shock absorber. The shock al sorber shown in Fig. 2 isinverted when used on the opposite side. of thejvehicle and the strap 34is wrapped around in the opposite direction. The device 'will then befilled with liquid through thei'opening 39 which will then be uppermost.The strap 34 is preferably a wire lrope having solder applied to itsinner end so that it may be securely clamped between the flanges on thecover and housing. The strap is readily removable and may be wrappedaround the housing in the opposite direction when and if desired.

In Fig. 5 I have disclosed a slightly modiied forni of my invention inwhich the peosition of the vane 12 and projection 4 has en reversed. Inthis form of the-invention the principal parts are made of castings'inof metal stampings. It will also be seen by reference to Fig. 5 thatthe compression chamber is not entirely filled withv liquid so that.lt-here is a small Yairchamber, or pocket above the level of liquid.which gives some additionalresilience to the device. VIn this form ofthe invention also provide a by-pass connection between opposite sidesofl the pivotally mounted vane.

This by-pass connection consists of. an e'n`-l lar ement^41, which ispreferably cast integral with the housing. A bore 42v extends lontudinally through this enlargement t? has its opposite ends threaded toreceive screw 'plugs 43 and 44 which are held in adjusted position bylock nuts and 46.

The bore 42 communicates with the interior of the housing by means ofpassageways 47, 48 and 49. The plugs 43 and -44 may be adjusted so as toallow theliquid to flow past or around the vane at a'predetermined rateof flow. Also castvinteg'ralwith thel housing at 'opposite sides thereofare enlargements 50 each having longitudinally extending bores 51therein. Each bore 51 communicates with the interior of the housingthrough a bore or passageway 52.v A tapered plug valve 53 is .threadedlysecured in one end of each bore 51 andvtheiinner end of the plug' visvtapered and seats in a restricted portion of the bore as shown. Theopposite end of' each bore 51 is closed by a screw plug 54 which isthreadedly received therein. When it is desired to lill the housing witha liquid vsuch as glycerine or oil, the plug 54 is lremoved and the plugvalve 53 opened. An alemite gun or similar device may be used forthispurpose. The husing is first lled `completely and then'apredetermined amount of th'e liquid is withdrawn so that the size of theair pocket will be the same in each shock absorber.

When the shock absorber is secured to a' barrel 10, which inlturnis'rigidly 'securedv to the vehicle body. When thehousing is turnedabout the barrel 10 in a clockwise direction the projection 4 will bemoved toward the vane 12. During the rst move' ment of the housing theliquid will flow" through the `passagewa 47 and past valve 43 andthenoethrough ore 42 and passageway 49 to the opposite side of the vane12.Y

After -the housing has been turned a short distance the passageway 47passes beyond the vane 12 and further low through bore 42 is cut off.Continued movement of the housing tends to compress the air in the airpocket at the tp of the compression cham ber. Further movement of thehousing forces the liquid aroundthe ends of the vane 1'2 and around theend of the blocr 4.

During the movement of the. housing the spring 15 will be tensioned-Vand when the upward or rebound movement of the vehicle has been chekedthe spring returnsV the parts tothe osition shown in Fig. 4. Theclearance at t e ends of the vane 12 is regulated and adjusted by meansof the'screws,

23 and 24 as hereinhefore described so that a very accurate adjustmentmay be obtained.

f tions,

v same mtoa air of concentric compartments,

vane arranged within .mentsand -pivotally secured to said barrel,

Thelposition of the block 3 and projection 4 determines the 'amount ofclearance and it will be clear that'the rebound of the vehicle body ischecked rapidly vor slowly in accordancel with this,` adjustment. Thisform of the invention is also adapted for attachment to either the righthand or left hand side of the vehicle body. In order to adapt afdevicefor use on the opposite side of a vehicle, it

is merely necessary to extend the stra around the cover allbws thevehicle .body to have aelimited unrestricted. upward movement whichtakes care of the minor vibrations or shocks without bringing the shockabsorber proper into action.

Various changes may be made in the details of my construction withoutdeparting from the spirit of m invention and I wish my invention to be'ted only in accordance with the scope ofthe appended claims.'

It willnow be clear that I have provided a shock absorber of the classdescribedwhich accomplishes the obj ects' of the inventionashereinbefore stated.

I-Iaving thus described myinvention, what I claim is 1. 'In a shockabsorber of the class described, acasing, a barrel arranged within saidcasing and dividing the 'same into a pair.

of concentric compartments, anI oscillating oneof said compartmeans foroscillating said casing about said barrel, means for returning' saidcasing to its original position and means for. regulating;

the movement of said casing with respect to lsaid barrel,

2; Inv a shock absorber of the class described,.a casing, 'a barrelarranged'within said casing and dividing the same into a v'pair ofconcentric compartments, said casing being rotatably mounted upon saidbarrel and said barrel having means for rigidly connecting the same witha vehicle body, a vane pivotally secured to said barrel, means foroscillating said casing about said barrel inone direction, spring means.for 'returning said casing to normalposition.

3. In a shock absorber, a casl arranged within said casing and dividingthe said barrel aving means f or connecting .the same to a vehicle body,a vane arranged within one of said compartments and pivotallycompartments,

of said compartments and pivotally secured 85 nig, a barrel` secured tosaid barrel, ablock arranged within` said last mentioned compartment andmeans non-rotatably connecting said block with said casing, a strapconnected with said. casing and adapted for connection with a ve'- hicleaxle whereby said casing will be turned about said barrel when saidvehicle body and axle are moved apart and sprin -means for turning saidcasing in the opposite direction whensaid vehicle body and axle approacheach other.

- 4. In combination with'a vehicle` body and axle, of a shock absorber.rigidly secured to said bod with sai axle, said shock absorber-compris-'ing a casing, a barrel arranged within said casing and dividing thesame into a pair of a vane arranged within one to said barrel, a blocknon-rotatably secured. to said last mentioned. compartment and mov-lable withlsaidA casing whereby said casing will be turned about saidbarrel when said vehicle body compartment` for returning said casing tonormal position and taking u the slack in said strap when said vehicleody and axle apprqach each other. I

5. In a shock absorber of the class described, a shat having a vanepivotally secured thereto, a casing surroundingisaid shaft and defininga compartment, a bloc arrangd Y within said compartment and non-rotata`secured to said casing, means for adjusting the position of said blockwith respect tovsai vane whereby to'vary the clearance between the endsoi said vane and casing, means for turning said casingabout said shaftin one direction and spring means for turning said casing in theopposite direction.

- 6. In a device of the class described, a drum adapted to be secured toa. rigid body, a ca'sing surrounding said drum and cooperating therewithto define a liquid tight comparti ment, a vane arranged within saidcompartment and pivotally secured to said' drum, a block arran ed Withinsaid compartment and non-rotatabIy secured to said casing and means forturning said casing about said drum inone direction and spring vmeansarranged within said drum or'turning said casing in the oppositedirection.

' 7. In a shock absorber, a hollow drum, a casing rotatably mounted onsaid hollow drum, a vane pivotally secured to said hollow drum, a sprmgsecured within saidhollow drum and adapted to be tensioned when -saidcasing is rotated, said drum having a portion extending through saidcasin and adapted for connection to a vehicle ody, and a flexibleconnection securedto said casing and extending around a portion thereofand adapted for connection to a vehicle axle. 8.- A. shock absorber ofthe class described' and having a iexible connectionl and axle are movedapart and j spring means arranged within said other comprising a hollowdrum, a casing rotat,

ably mounted on said hollow drum, and

i adapted to be substantially filled with liquid,

a vane pivotally secured to said hollow drum and engaging with the wallof saidcasing, a

block slidably mounted on said hollow drumand connected with saidvcasingso as to.ro.

tate therewith, said drum having a portion adapted for attachment to avehicle body,

a flexible connection vsecured to said casing by means of which saidcasing may be rotated about A said drum, frictional means tending toresist the rotation of said casing and means for returning said casingto nordrum and traversing the space between said druml and the walls ofsaid casing, a block secured Within said casing so as to rotatetherewith, means for.` varying the clearance at the ends of said vane, astrap secured to and extending around a portion of said casing by meansof which said casing may be turned about said drum in one direction andspring means arranged within said hollow drum and tending to return saidcasing to normal position.

10. A shock absorber of the class described comprising a hollow drumadapted to be rigidly secured to a vehicle body, a casing rotatablymounted on said hollow drum and closing the end of the same,-`a coilspring arranged within said drumand having one end secured to said drumand its opposite end secured to said casing, a ring membervnon-rotatably secured to said drum and having an overhangingportionforming a bearing for said casing, a disk rotatably mounted on saidringmember and resting loosely on said overhanging portion and disposedbetweensaid overhanging portion and the cover for said casing, a vanesecured to said drum and traversing the space between the drum and thewalls of said casing, a block arranged within said casing andnon-rotatably secured thereto, means for adjusting the position of saidblock to vary the clearance at the ends of said vane, a strap secured tosaid casing and extending around a portion of said drum and adapted forconnection with a vehicle axle.

11. A shock absorber as set forth in claim 10 in whichthe portion 'ofsaid casing around which said strap extends is oval in shape.

12. In a shock absorber o f the class described, a drum, a casingrotatably mounted on said drum, a vane pivotally connected to said drumand traverslng the space between the walls of said casing and said drum,and

spring meansarranged within said. drum and tending to \rotatesaid.casing in one direction.

13. In a shock absorber for vehicles, a.u drum adapted to be rigidlysecured to a vehicle body, a casing rotatably mounted on said drum, saiddrum dividingsa'id casing into a pair of concentric compartments, a vanecarried by said drum and traversing the space between the walls of saidcasing and said drum, said vane being movable with respect4 to saiddrum, andv spring means arranged within said drum and tending to rotatesaid casing in one direction.

14. In a shock absorber for vehicles, a drum adapted to be rigidlysecured to a vehicle body, a casing rotatably mounted on'said drum, saiddrum dividing said casing into a pair of compartments, a vane pivotallysecured to said'drum and traversing the space `between the walls of saidcasing and said d" um, and spring means arranged within said drdum andtending to rotate said Vcasing in one direction.

15. In a shock absorbing device, a casing, a hollow shaft journaled insaid casing and dividing the same into a pair of compartments, a lvanepivotallyl mounted in .one of said compartments on an axis spaced fromand parallel with the axisof said shaft, and spring means arrangedwithin the other of said compartments and tending to cause relativemovement between said shaft andcasing.

16. In a shock absorber, a casing, a hollow shaft journaled in saidcasing, a vane pivotally secured to said hollow shaft, a spring arrangedwithin said hollow shaft and adapted to be tensioned when said casing isrotated on said drum and a portion extending through said casing andadapted for connection to a' vehicle body, a flexible connection securedto said casing and extending around a portion thereof and adapted forconnection to a vehicle axle, the-portion about which said flexibleconnection extends being a curved surface of varying radius.

17. In a shock absorber, a shaft, a vane secured to said shaft so as tohave limited movement with respect thereto, a casing surrounding saidshaftvand defining a working compartment, a block arranged within said4working compartment, and means for adjusting the position of said blockwith respect to said vane whereby to vary the clearance between the endsofthe vane and casing.

signature.

COURTNEY N. MITCHELL. i

12o f In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiixvmy p' y isp

